The latest from the Gang ... 

A warm summer day awaited 15 Gang members as we met at the Bedford Depot to bike to Alewife Station in Cambridge, 20 miles round trip on one of the most popular bikeways in New England. 

Most of the trail fortunately was shaded as we left Bedford, crossed Route 128 and then rode through sunny Lexington centre. Lots of other bikers and walkers had the same idea as we did. From Lexington we picked up some more shade as we rode through Arlington, stopping at Spy Pond first a group photo. Once reached Alewife Joel Snider took us on a scenic diversion along boardwalks crossing the Little River in Cambridge and lots of aquatic and native plants along the route. 

On our return we stopped for lunch and coffee before finishing our ride at our start in Bedford. 

Alan U

It’s officially summer and 18 Gang members had a beautiful early summer bike ride on the Neponset River Greenway. Our ride started at Pope John Paul II Park in Dorchester and headed towards Milton and Dorchester Lower Mills. We rode along the river before following the old fashioned trolley cars towards Mattapan. 

Reversing course we stopped for coffee at Flat Black in Dorchester before cycling past the old Bakers Chocolate Building, marshes and then towards UMass Boston, the Edward M Kennedy Institute for the US Senate and the Commonwealth Museum in South Boston 

We stopped at a food stand on Carson Beach for a bite to eat and ice cream before ending our ride back at Pope John Paul II Park

Alan U

A wonderful group of 12 bikers and 16 walkers showed up at Mary's, and they lucked up with the  weather.

A huge thank you to Gaille A and Kathleen B for stepping up to lead the 20-mile ride with 10 riders.  They had big shoes to fill taking over for Al G!  Gaille lead the ride and Kathleen was the sweep. 

Kathy White and Mary did the 10-mile ride.  Both rides were shady and lovely; and both rides had wonderful ice cream stops – Kimballs and Great Brook Farms.  T

Everybody made a bee line home for the potluck.  We had a great variety of food including vegan and gluten free!  You can see by the picture that we didn’t have enough food as usual, but more came after the picture was taken!

Thank you to Meredith for leading the walk.

Mary W

In Billerica Veteran's Park

It turned out to be a warm and sunny day for the walk in the Ralph Hill section of the North Billerica Veterans Park.  Sixteen TOHG members enjoyed  the 2 mile walk through the wooded area.  Afterwards we joined the bike group and others at Mary’s house for a potluck lunch and lots of conversation.

Hedy P

Don't miss the new bridge to the right of the photo!

In the early morning, it sure looked like another cancellation for the ride on the East Bay Path. It was pouring! We had tried to schedule it the prior week and three times in 2025.

But, no, fourteen members still decided to take their chances, and gathered at Kettle Point in East Providence to ride the path. First we paid a visit to Mrs.Skipper, one of a series of troll sculptures made from recycled materials that now reside on the RI “Troll Trail,” and asked her to keep further rain away. She delivered—there was no more rain for the completion of the ride to Colt State Park and back.

We indulged in snacks at Colt State Park accompanied by lively conversations. On the way back, we took a lengthly break to enjoy coffee and ice cream in East Providence. The Dari-Bee in East Providence is open again, recently purchased and revived by a father-son duo! 

A big thank you to all TOHG members who broke the curse of rain on the East Bay Bike Path!

Ines A

Mrs Skipper

Marina lead us on another awesome tour of Alnoba Sculpture Park where we visited 8 of the herd of 100 life-size Indian elephants which were part of the Great Elephant Migration beginning at the Breakers in RI.  Alnoba acquired 3 of these majestic creatures in 2024 and today have been joined by 5 more! Our gang stands beside these gentle giants as a reminder to protect and respect our shared world.

Beverly C

It was a picture perfect day as blue skies and white puffy clouds greeted six TOHG members as we biked about 14 miles round trip on the North Central Pathway.

We started near several old, perhaps abandoned, mill buildings in Winchendon riding past a lake and stopping for a photo op in front of a large bicycle sculpture. This portion of the trail was newly repaved making for a pleasant ride as we passed woods, bogs and streams towards Gardner. Along our route we passed mountain laurel, a heron, red squirrels and several chickens foraging in the underbrush near the trail edge. 

Shortly after crossing into Gardner the trail came to an abrupt end and although open for riding previously was closed off this time.  At this point we turned around and headed back to Winchendon enjoying the scenery along the way. 

Alan U

Sure to become a Top Three Contender for Most Scenic New England Rail Trail, the Sugar River Rail Trail stretches from Claremont to Newport NH about 9 miles each way on a dirt and gravel bed. 

The trail crisscrosses the Sugar River several times and includes two trestle bridges and two railroad covered bridges. We saw several wild turkeys, beautiful densely wooded portions of the trail, dirt roads and a number of friendly bikers and hikers. We stopped in downtown Newport at an Irish pub for lunch before returning to Claremont and passing the same flock of turkeys foraging in a field. 

Alan U

The weather was more mid summer than Spring as five TOHG members met to ride on the Tri-Community Greenway. 

This ride winds mostly through suburban neighbourhoods as it cuts across the old General Foods (Jell-o) factory grounds, past several cemeteries, Winchester Hispital Oncology Centre and along the Aberjona River and some very welcome shade. We continued along quiet residential streets before passing through downtown Winchester and past the Wedgemere commuter rail station. We elected to go on a bit further to one of the Mystic lakes dams where we stopped to look at cormorants and other birds before resuming our ride and stopping for coffee in Winchester on our return. 

Alan U

Seven TOHG hikers walked trails in Reading Town Forest. 
We walked slightly over three of the seven miles of trails.  It was a very hot and muggy day so we took our time. We crossed over several long boardwalks next to an old cranberry bog.  We also observed many tress that were cut down because they were disease-ridden (many of the logs were still there).  However, the trails were almost totally shaded making the heat less overbearing.  We walked up to the Ipswich River, saw an abandoned beaver dam, a couple of swans and what appeared to be the fireplace of an abandoned cabin next to the Ipswich River swamp.

After the hike, three of us enjoyed a lunch at Half and Half in Reading.

Neal S

Three Hub Mystery group Members visited the Boston African American Museum on Beacon Hill. It is housed in two buildings.  

Above we are pictured in the restored meeting house that was built in 1806 by the black community that lived in the area. It served as an African Baptist Church, a meeting house, and the locale for the first school for black children. 

A guide explained that it was a safe place for early abolutionists to speak freely and many did.T he second building, The Abiel Smith School, the first public school for black children,  opened in 1835. Now it houses an exhibit honoring the highlights of black Boston. 

We then went to Antonio's Cucina for a delicous Italian lunch. 

Merle W